Charles Johnson Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Vikings WR Charles Johnson (ribs) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.  WR Jarius Wright (hand) is questionable after returning to a limited practice on Friday.  He'd likely be the #2 WR if active.  But WR Mike Wallace and TE Kyle Rudolph are the only parts of this Minnesota passing game that should be near fantasy lineups.

Vikings WR Charles Johnson (ribs) did not practice on Wednesday.  He played just 16 snaps last week after injuring his ribs early in the game.  Consider him iffy for Week 4, although he shouldn't be in fantasy lineups regardless in a brutal matchup against the Broncos.

Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater expects big things from WR Charles Johnson this season.  "Charles, he's a big, physical guy," Bridgewater said.  "He showed that he's going to be big for us this year."  Johnson was impressive down the stretch last year, has been talked up by the coaching staff this offseason and hauled in 4 of 5 targets for 40 yards and a score in Minnesota's 3rd preseason game.  There's WR2 upside here, making Johnson a steal at his 7th-round ADP.

Vikings WR Cordarrelle Patterson will head to training camp 4th on the depth chart, per insider Ben Goessling.  Charles Johnson and Mike Wallace are essentially locked into the 2 outside spots, and Jarius Wright is the favorite for slot duties.  That'd leave Patterson in more of a gadget role -- which might make the most sense for the Vikings but wouldn't do much for fantasy owners.  Patterson's skill set makes him worth monitoring closely this summer, but he'll need to climb the depth chart in order to be more than a late-round flier.

Vikings OC Norv Turner called Charles Johnson "far and away" the team's best WR earlier this offseason.  (Although that was before Minnesota traded for Mike Wallace.)  Turner piled on some more love after the team wrapped up minicamp:  "He's got great work ethic, and he's a big, strong guy. He's a 218-pound receiver that can run. He's got everything you need to be a productive player in this league."  Johnson certainly has the size and athleticism to flourish as a pro.  He closed last season with 25 catches, 415 yards and 2 TDs over the final 7 games and appears locked into a starting spot this year.  There's WR2 upside here, making Johnson a nice grab at his 7th-round ADP.

The Vikings snagged WR Stefon Diggs in the 5th round of the 2015 NFL Draft.  A 5-star recruit coming out of high school, Diggs racked up 1,896 all-purpose yards as a freshman.  But he failed to build on that in his final 2 seasons, due at least in part to a broken leg in 2013 and a lacerated kidney in 2014.  Diggs goes 6'0, 195 with 4.4 speed and explosive change-of-direction ability.  He creates lots of separation and is dangerous after the catch.  Diggs struggles against physical DBs, though, and might be stuck as slot receiver in the pros.  He'll battle with Cordarrelle Patterson and Jarius Wright for playing time behind Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson.

The Dolphins on Friday traded WR Mike Wallace and a 7th-round pick to the Vikings for a 5th-round pick. The low-cost for a talented wideout heading into just his age-29 season shows just how much Miami wanted to get rid of him, and perhaps how wary other teams remain of the big contract he signed. Regardless, Wallace brings deep speed to a Minnesota team suddenly deep at wideout. The Vikings boast 2014's emergent Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson -- who's heading into just his 3rd year -- and veteran Greg Jennings. (We'll see if Wallace's arrival threatens Jennings' status.) For now, it's tough to find Wallace enough volume to climb beyond WR3 territory in fantasy football, but there's no clear #1 in Minnesota's WR pecking order. QB Teddy Bridgewater can only gain value from adding Wallace's big-play speed. The 2nd-year mean looks like a solid pick near the bottom of the top 12 at QB. We'll be very interested to watch this offense through the summer.

Vikings OC Norv Turner considers Charles Johnson "far and away our best receiver."  It's high praise for a guy who has appeared in just 11 NFL games.  Of course, Johnson flourished down the stretch this past year, racking up 25 catches, 415 yards and 2 TDs over the final 7 games.  He was 34th among WRs in fantasy points during the stretch and is capable of finishing even higher in 2015.  Johnson is obviously locked into 1 of Minnesota's starting WR jobs.  That means Cordarrelle Patterson will need to beat out Greg Jennings for the other.

Vikings WR Charles Johnson plans on training with WR Brandon Marshall this offseason.  Awesome news.  Always an intriguing size-athleticism prospect, Johnson made big strides over the 2nd half of the season.  He racked up 25 catches, 415 yards and 2 TDs in his final 7 games.  "He came up to me after the game and he said, 'Hey man, much respect, you're a baller, you're really good,'" Johnson said of his interaction with Marshall after their Week 11 meeting.  "It was something to see that a guy like him who's established thought that I was good and acknowledged my game. He said that I had some good skills, and I really appreciated the compliment."  There's no reason Johnson shouldn't take another step forward in 2015.

Up until Week 11, Vikings WR Charles Johnson was just that big, athletic dude. He entered Sunday’s game against the Bears with 6 career catches. He left it with another 6. The 6 grabs led the team, as did Johnson's 7 targets and 87 yards. WRs Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for 3 catches for 28 yards.  We’ll have to see at least 1 more productive fantasy outing from Johnson before recommending him even as a waiver-wire target. And even then, Minnesota’s bumbling passing game would make him tough to trust in fantasy lineups down the stretch.  But keep him in mind for 2015 – and roster him if he’s available in your dynasty league. Johnson goes 6’3, 215 pounds with sub-4.4 speed.

The Browns have released WR Charles Johnson.  The intriguing size-athleticism prospect just didn't show enough in preseason action to earn a roster spot.  Johnson totaled just 6 catches and 65 yards in 115 preseason snaps.  He'll either get claimed by another team or land on Cleveland's practice squad.  Johnson is obviously off the redraft radar but remains an intriguing stash in dynasty.  The Browns' WR depth chart now reads Miles Austin, Andrew Hawkins, Travis Benjamin, Taylor Gabriel and LaRon Byrd.

Browns insider Tony Grossi calls WR Charles Johnson a "revelation" through the first few days of camp.  "Physically imposing (6-2 ½, 215), deceptively fast (4.38 40 time) and surprisingly up to speed on the Kyle Shanahan offense, Johnson could be the receiver that comes out of nowhere to lessen the impact of – if not offset -- the impending suspension of Josh Gordon," Grossi writes.  Johnson was a 7th-round pick last year but missed the entire season with a torn ACL.  The fact that he's the most naturally gifted WR on the Browns roster (outside of Josh Gordon) makes him worth watching closely over the next few weeks, though.  “He’s a guy that we hope can emerge from this as a guy that can help us,” HC Mike Pettine said.